One of my clients sent me this article, then my husband left the hard copy on my desk. I guess they know what I like!
The attached article from last Saturday’s New York Times, “Tiptoeing Out of One’s Comfort Zone” talks about how we are at our most productive when we are feeling just slightly challenged. Many of us do this naturally. In some cases, companies keep us on a fairly regular learning curve so that we are always at our most productive.
What the article doesn’t address is the stress of more radical change. At a time when people change jobs every two to three years, and can expect to have a major career shift five times in their life, it is beyond mildly uncomfortable. It can be excruciating. And risky.
Coaches work with clients to smooth these times of major transition. They keep the client feeling confident, and that they are doing the right thing. Whether is it personal coaching for a job change, executive coaching for a big internal promotion, or another situation entirely, most of us need support. Our natural tendency is to avoid discomfort, and yet the world we live in demands it. I’ve had a coach and am a coach and so my advice is if you want to make a major change, get a coach!